- A Franklin County Common Pleas Judge has denied a lawsuit filed on Monday to delay the Ohio Primary Election scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, until June due to the rapidly spreading Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
The lawsuit was supported by Ohio Governor Mike Dewine as he stated during a press conference on Monday afternoon.
“We can’t tell people it’s in their best interest to stay home and at the same time tell people to go vote,” DeWine said but Judge Richard Frye ruled later Monday evening that it was too late to move back the primary.
Officials in Georgia, Kentucky, Lousiana and Wyoming, along with Puerto Rico, have already delayed their elections due to the outbreak of the virus.
According to Kim Rudd at the Crawford County Board of Elections, plans are moving forward for the polls to be open across the county from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
“This is the latest we are hearing so we are contacting our poll workers to ensure they will be at the precincts in the morning,” said Rudd.
This story will be updated if any other changes occur before 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday. If not, the election will be moving forward according to officials.
COLUMBUS — Governor Mike DeWine announced in a press conference this afternoon his intent to delay Tuesday’s primary elections, in light of the concerns over COVID-19.
Crawford County Board of Elections Director, Ruth Leuthold confirmed that her office received word at the same time the announcement was made to the public.
A lawsuit will be filed to postpone the election until June 2, 2020. In the meantime, voters would still be able to request absentee ballots. It will be up to a judge to decide if the election will be postponed.
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 16, 2020
This is a developing situation. Please check back for more details.